Dust guard and well cap



Sept. 6, 1960 w. H. KORN DUST GUARD AND WELL CAP Filed Oct. 6, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 J INVENTOR. WaZde/rzarfl lib/77 BY am Sept. 6, 1960 w. H. KORN DUST GUARD AND WELL CAP 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 001:. 6, 1955 Sept. 6, 1960 w. H. KORN 2,95 ,718

DUST GUARD AND WELL CAP Filed Oct. 6, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 2,951,718 t Patented S ept. 6,1960

DUST GUARD AND WELL CAP Waldemar H. Korn, 729 Western Ave., Davenport, Iowa Filed Oct. 6, 1955, Ser. No. 538,857 6 Claims. (Cl. 286--6) The present invention relates to an improved dust guard and well cap for railway car journal boxes. The conventional railway car journal box is customarily provided with a vertical transverse well or slot at its inner end, into which the improved dust guard is inserted, with the guard encircling the car axle, and with the improved well cap closing the top of the well.

The general object of the present invention is to provide an improved dust guard and well cap for such journal boxes which will not only prevent the entrance of dust and other foreign matter from the exterior of the box, but which will form an effective seal against the escape of oil from the box either along the axle, or along the walls or out through the top of the aforesaid well in which the dust guard is positioned.

My improved dust guard comprises two spaced outer layers of a stiff backing material, such as plywood, masonite or the like, between which is secured an intermediate layer of pliable sealing material such as neoprene, molded rubber, rubberized cloth or the like. These three layers are secured together by stapling or in any other suitable manner. A central opening passes through all three layers for receiving the car axle.

The intermediate layer of sealing material is formed around its outer periphery with two outwardly divergent elastic lips which flare laterally beyond the outer side surfaces of the plywood backing layers, and which establish sealing contact with the side walls of the vertical well or slot receiving the dust guard. The lower peripheral portion of the intermediate sealing layer is also formed with a third elastic lip which projects downwardly between the two outwardly divergent elastic lips. All three lips preferably taper substantially to feather edges, and the third intermediate lip contacts the bottom wall of the dust guard receiving well in the journal box. Thus, the two outwardly divergent lips in their contact with the opposite side walls of the dust guard receiving well establish a double seal of contact at the sides and top of the dust guard, and the three lips extending across the bottom of the dust guard establish a triple seal of contact between the lower portion of the dust guard and the bottom of the dust guard receiving well. The two outwardly divergent lips and the third intermediate lip are of long tapering cross section, so that by deflection, compression and change of shape they can readily accommodate themselves to different dimensions of dust guard receiving wells, and can also accommodate themselves to endwise shifting and transverse displacement of the car axle within the journal box, meanwhile maintaining eifective sealing contact between the elastic lips and the side walls and bottom wall of the guard receiving well. The intermediate sealing layer of elastic material is formed with an internal annular lip around the central opening which receives the car journal. The adjacent inner edges of the plywood stiiiening layers are beveled to form a V-shaped escape groove into which said internal annular lip can be laterally deflected or can be radially compressed, either as sidewise. sliding motion occurs between the car axle and the journal box, or as relative vertical displacing motion occurs between the axle and box, this escape groove preventing shearing, tearing or abrasion of such elastic internal lip as a result of either of these horizontal or vertical relative movements between the journal and the journal box. This internal annular lip is held pressed upwardly against the under side of the car axle for preventing oil leakage along the car axle by the resilient thrusting reaction exerted against the bottom wall of the well by one or more of the elastic sealing lips pressing downwardly against this bottom wall.

My improved well cap is adapted to be fitted down over the open top of the dust guard receiving well after my improved dust guard has been inserted therein. This well cap is preferably constructed in the form of a sheet metal stamping having a compressible sealing gasket on its under side for establishing an oil tight seal against the top of the well.

One feature of my improved well cap, which cooperates with my improved dust guard, is the provision of an improved parting rib which projects downwardly from the under side of the well cap and spreads apart the two divergent elastic lips extending upwardly from the top of the dust guard, keeping these two lips pressed outwardly into contact with the side walls of the cell.

Another feature of my improved well cap is a variable size type of construction according to which one size well cap can be varied in dimensions to fit diiferent sizes of wells.

Another feature of my improved well cap is the provision of improved fastening means for fastening the cap to the top of the Well.

Other objects and features of the invention will appear from the following detail description of certain preferred embodiments thereof. 7

In the accompanying drawings illustrating such embodiments:

Figure l is a vertical sectional view of a car journal box with the car axle shown in elevation, and my improved dust guard shown in section within the dust guard well; a

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of one embodiment of my improved dust guard, corresponding to a section taken on the plane of the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View thereof, taken on the plane of the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view through the dust guard receiving well of the journal box with my improved dust guard mounted therein;

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view taken on the plane of the line 55 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view taken on the plane of the line 6-6 of Figure 2;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a modified embodiment of my improved dust guard;

Figure 8 is a top plan view of my improved well cap;

Figure 9 is a reverse or bottom view of the well cap;

Figure 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of the cap, showing the latter mounted on a dust guard receiving well;-

' Figure 11 is a transverse sectional View on a larger scale, taken: approximately on the plane of the line 11-11 of Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a transverse sectional view taken approximately on the plane of the line 1212 of Figure 10;

Figure 13 is a fragmentary plan view of one end of the cap showing the top and side tongues bent inwardly for adapting the cap to a smaller size of well;

Figure 14 is a transverse sectional view through a modified construction employing an internal fastening. clip for holding the cap on the well;

/ Figure 15 is a vertical sectional view through one of V the internal fastening clips;

Figure 16 is a transverse sectional view showing an indented lug form .of fastening means;

V Figure 17 is an elevational view showing this indented lug in one of the side flanges; and

Figures 18 and 19 are transverse sectional views showing other forms of fastening means.

My improved dust guard may be employed in connection with any type of car journal box. The journal box designated 15 in Figure l is provided at its outer end with an opening 16 which is normally closed by a suitable cover 17 hinged to the box at 18. The inner end of the box is provided with a cylindrical opening 19 for receiving the journal of the car axle 20. The journal comprises an outer bearing portion 21 and an inner portion 22 of larger diameter. Engaging with the outer bearing portion 21 is the conventional arcuate bearing 23 held in place in the box by the conventional bearing wedge 24.

Formed at the inner end of the journal box is a conventional dust guard well or slot 25 having an open top '26, parallel side walls 27 and a bottom wall 29. The cylindrical opening 19 at the inner end of the journal box passes through this dust guard well or slot 25 The cylindrical opening 19 is of larger size than the large journal portion 22 to permit the journal to have limited floating or vibratory movement in the box. The dust guard, designated 30 in its entirety, comprises a stiif body portion made up of two spaced backing layers .or laminations 31 and 32 composed of plywood, masonite .or the like. Interposed between these two backing layers .31 and 32 is an intermediate sealing layer or lamination 33 composed of neoprene, molded rubber, rubberized clothor other elastomeric or rubbery resilient material. ,The three laminations 31-33 are preferably secured together by wire staples 34 passing through all three laminations, although they might be secured together by rivets, pins, bolts or the like, or by a suitable adhesive. A central opening 35 passes through all three laminations for receiving the-journal portion 22 of the car axle.

The dust guard well or slot 25 is designed to have a :standard or fixed transverse width (of approximately of an inch) in the axial dimension of the car axle 1 but in the pattern making operations and in the casting operations some variations are bound to occur, and hence substantial plus and minus variations are acceptable in .the transverse width of this dust guard well. My improved dust guard seal is so constructed as to have a ,floating mounting within this well 25, while still maintaining resilient dust excluding contact with the side walls ,of the well. To obtain this floating mounting, the above ,described relatively stiif central'portion, embodying the two backing layers 31 and 32, together with the intervening elastomeric sealing layer 33 and connecting staples 34, has a transverse width from its outer side surface to its inner side surface which is substantially less than the transverse width of the dust guard well 25 (even allowing for'the above permissible variation in width of the well). Thus, this relatively stiff central portion of my :improved seal has free floating mounting within the dust guard well 25, which permits the seal to move vertically :within the well throughout the full range of vertical 'jolt ing movement which the caraxle 20 may have in the journal box 15. This free-floating mounting also permits some horizontal shifting movement of the seal within the well, axially of the journal. Projecting diagonally outwardly from this relatively stiif central portion are the elastomeric lips or fins which have resilient sliding contact with the walls of the dust guard well 25, as I shall now describe.

Formed integral with the intermediate sealing layer 33 and projecting outwardly from the outer peripheral portion thereof are two laterally or outwardly divergent lips or fins 36. The outer edges-of these outwardly dil vergent lips 36 establish elastic sealing contact with the side walls 27 of the dust guard slot or well 25.

Formed around the lower peripheral portion of the intermediate elastic layer 33 is a third lip 37 which projects downwardly or outwardly between the two outwardly divergent lips 36, this third lip subtending the axonate lower edge of the dust guard, and possibly the side edges as well. This intermediate third lip 37 bears against the bottom or outer transverse wall 29 of the dust guard slot or well 25. All three lips are of long tapering cross-section, preferably tapering to feather edges. The lips are capable of deflection, compression and change of shape so that they can readily adapt themselves to diiferent dimensions of dust guard slots or wells, and can also accommodate themselves to endwise shifting or transverse displacement of the car journal within the journal box, meanwhile maintaining effective sealing contact with the side walls 27 and bottom wall 29 of theslot or well 25. The two laterally divergent lips 36-36 are initially molded so that they flare outwardly to a dimension wider than the space between the side walls 2727 of the dust guard well 25, as indicated by the width or thickness of the dust guard shown in Figure 3. When the dust guard is inserted into the well 25, these laterallydivergent lips 36-36 are resiliently squeezed together into the smaller dimension between the side walls 2727 of the well, as shown in Figure 4. As a result of being thus squeezed together, these two lips have a resilient bias tending to hold them pressed outwardly against the side walls 2727. The adjacent edges of the plywood backing layers 31, 32 are beveled around their outer peripheries to form a V-shaped groove 38 therebetween for receivng the base portions of the laterally divergent lips 36, 36.

' Sealing contact between the dust guard and the car journal 22 is established by an internal annular lip 40 which projects inwardly from the intermediate layer 33 around the central opening 35. This internal annular lip is of wedge-shaped contour and projects inwardly slightly beyond the inner edges of the backing layers 31 and 32, with the central pointed edge of its wedge-shaped contour engaging with a snug fit over the journal por tion 22 of the car axle. The adjacent edges of the plywood backing layers are beveled to form an internal annular V-shaped groove or escape trough 41 therebetween into which said wedge-shaped internal annularlip 40 can be either horizontally deflected or vertically com, pressed whenever axial sliding motion occurs horizontally between the journal and the journal box, or whenever relative vertical displacing motion occurs between the journal and the journal box. When either of these horizontal or vertical motions occur between the journal box and the journal the internal annular lip 40 escapes shearing, tearing or abrasion between the car journal 20 and .the stiffening backs 31 and 32 by retreating into the escape groove 41 either by lateral deflection or by radial compression of such internal lip 40. This internal annular lip 40 is held pressed upwardly against the under side of the car axle by the resilient thrusting reaction exerted against the bottom wall 29 of the well 25 by one or more of the sealing lips 36, 37. In Figure 4 I have shown all three sealing lips 36, 36 and 37 exerting thrusting reaction downwardly against the bottom wall 29, with the two laterally divergent lips 36, 36 also contacting the side walls 27. However, as hereinafter disclosed, I may make the intermediate lip 37 longer for effecting solecontact with the bottom wall 29. Thus, as the lower portion of the internal annular lip 40 wears away from contact with the under side of the journal portion 22, the dust guard slides upwardly automatically under the action of this lip pressure reacting downwardly against the bottom of the well 25, thereby maintaining an effective seal against oil leakage along the bottom of the journal 22. It will be noted that the V-shaped groove or-trough 41' has ample width and depth compared to the width and depth of the wedge-shaped pliable lip 40 so that whenever endwise jolting between the car journal and journal box causes lateral flexing or deflection of the lip 40 the entire deflected portion of the lip is receivable completely within either side of the V-shaped groove 41 so that no pinching of the deflected lip can occur between the stiffening layers 31, 32 and the cylindrical surface of the journal. Similarly, in the case of straight radial jolting at right angles to the journal axis, the radial compression of the wedge-shaped lip 40 causes it to widen or bulge out horizontally, but the substantially greater tapering width of the V-shaped groove 41 can amply receive this compressed lip 40 without the possibility of the lip being pinched between the stifl'ening backs 31, 32 and the cylindrical surface of the journal. The central opening 35 through the stiffening back members 31, 32 is only a small fraction of an inch larger than that portion of the journal passing therethrough, so that these stiffening back members come into contact intermittently with the car journal as vibratory or jolting action occurs between the journal and the journal box. Thus, insofar as the combined dust guard and oil seal 30 is concerned, the stiffening back members 31 and 32 take the brunt of the horizontal and vertical jolting between the car journal and journal box and protect the elastomeric sealing lip 40 against any overstressing deflection vor compression and against any mechanical in- Formed in the inner plywood layer 31 in communication with the V-shaped groove 41 are one or more oil return channels 44, 44. As shown in Figure 5, these channels lead from the bottom of the V-shaped groove 41 and open onto the inner face of the inner plywood layer 31. They function to return accumulations of oil from the lower part of the V-shaped groove 41 into the interior of the journal box. As shown in Figure 6, these oil return channels 44, 44 are oppositely inclined relatively to the opposite directions of rotation of the journal so as to deflect into the journal box accumulations of oil thrown by the journal from the lower part of the V-shaped groove 41. The opposite angles of inclination of the two channels 44, 44 accommodate the opposite directions of rotation of the journal within the journal box. For example, the left hand channel 44 in Figure 6 will function most effectively to divert. oil in a direction away from the central annular lip 40 as this oil is thrown by the lower surface of the journal when the journal is moving in a direction from right to left; and, conversely, the right hand channel 44' will function to divert oil in a direction away from the central annular lip 40 as this oil is thrown by the lower surface of the journal when the journal is moving in the opposite direction, ie from left to right.

Small deflection grooves 46 are also formed in the outer faces of the plywood stiffening layers 31 and 32 near the central opening 35. The deflecting groove 46 in the outer plywood layer 32 aids in deflecting water or dirt thrown along the lower side of the journal from the adjacent car wheel, and the deflecting groove 46 in the inner plywood layer 31 serves to deflect any oil which might be splashed or thrown in an outward direction from the inside of the journal box.

The modified embodiment of dust guard illustrated in Figure 7 comprises the two spaced layers of stiffening material 31 and 32 and the intermediate sealing layer 33, substantially the same as described above. However, the two laterally divergent sealing lips 36 are recessed more into a deeper ll-shaped groove 33' formed in the outer peripheries of the spaced layers 31, 32, and only establish sealing contact with the side walls 27 of the dust guard receiving well.

The third intermediate sealing lip 37' projecting from the lower peripheral portion of the intermediate sealing layer 33' projects outwardly or downwardly a substantial distance beyond the feather tips of the two laterally sa e divergent lips 36', and is of heavier cross-section than the two lips 36'. This third lip 37' is adapted to have sealing contact and thrusting reaction against the bottom wall of the well 25, for holding the internal annular sealing lip 40' pressed upwardly against the bottom of the car axle.

In Figures 8 to 13 inclusive, I have illustrated an embodiment of a well cap which has direct cooperation with the above described dust guard. This well cap is fastened in place over the top of the well 25 after the dust guard is in position, and seals the top of the well against oil leakage, which is particularly advantageous in the case of railway dump cars which are adapted to be inverted by dumping mechanism for the dumping of their loads. This well cap, designated 5% in its entirety, is constructed as a channel-shaped sheet metal stamping comprising a central web portion 51 from the sides of which are bent downwardly extending side flanges 52 and 53. Slits 54 extend inwardly at the corners of the channel and define central tongues 51 at the opposite ends of the web portion 51, and also define side tongues 52' and 53' at the opposite ends of the side flanges 52 and 53. Extending longitudinally of the web portion 51 is a downwardly projecting parting rib 55 which may be an integral punching from the web portion 51 or which may be a bar secured to the web portion. This rib 55 serves to part the upper divergent lips 36 of the dust guard 30 and to keep them pressed outwardly against the side walls 27 of the dust guard slot or well 25, as shown in Figure 11. The cooperating engagement be tween the parting rib 55 and the sealing lips 36 permits movement of the dust guard relatively to the well cap, however, which is desirable in order to enable the dust guard to follow the movements of the journal 21. Still another cooperative feature of the rib 55 with respect to the dust guard 31,, resides in the fact that the relatively long horizontflly extending expanse of engagement between the rib 55 and the top edge of the dust guard results in the rib 55 functioning to key or limit the to and fro rotary or rocking movement of the dust guard 30 within the well 25. This rotary or rocking movement tends to occur with reversing directions of rotation of the car journal, and the presence of the downwardly projecting rib 55 serves to limit this rotary movement more effectively than does the engagement of the side lips 36, 36 against the side walls of the Well 25.

Confined against the under side of the well cap is a soft sponge rubber gasket 56 which has a longitudinal slot 57 therein for fitting over the parting rib 55. I Holes 58 are provided in the central tongues 51 for receiving self-tapping screws 59, and holes 61 may be provided in the side flanges 52 for receiving transverse fasteners 62 in the form of cotter pins, nails, screws or the like, which pass through the cap and through the well, as shown in Figure 12.

In present day railway rolling stock there are at least three different sizes of journal boxes for three different sizes of journals, each of these having a different length of dust guard well 25. My improved well cap 50 is designed so that one size or type of cap is adapted for universal application to all three lengths of wells. For the well of shortest length, such as illustrated in Figure 10, the central tongues 51 are bent downwardly substantially at the inner ends of the slits 54, or along bending lines which would place these central tongues substantially against the outer end surfaces of the well, as indicated in dotted lines a in Figure 10. The selftapping screws 59 are then screwed inwardly against the end walls of the well 25. Thereupon, the side tongues 52' and 53 are bent inwardly to overlie the central tongue 51, as illustrated in Figure 13.

For a well of intermediate length, the central tongues 51' are bent downwardly along intermediate folding lines substantially'at the end edges of the well, as indicated in dash-dot lines b in Figure 10. After the self-tapping 7 screws 59 have been driven into the well the projecting ends of the side tongues 52' and 53' are bent to overlie the outer sides of the central tongues 51.

When the well cap is to be applied to a well of maximum length, the three tongues 51', 52' and 53 are not bent downwardly and inwardly, but are left in prolongation of their respective web and flange portions, as indicated in full lines in Figure 10.

The length of parting rib 55 remains the same for all three lengths of wells. With regard to the sponge rubber or neoprene gasket 56, this may be supplied in three difierent lengths, or may be supplied in a length corresponding substantially to the full length of the cap for wells of greatest length, in which event different end portions of this long gasket will be cut off to accommodate the shorter lengths of wells. This gasket effects a thorough oil tight seal around the upper lip of the well 25, which is particularly advantageous in the case of railway dump cars which are adapted to be inverted by dumping mechanism for the dumping of their loads. With an open top well, a large part of the oil within the journal box will be lost in the inverting of such a car.

The use of the transverse fasteners 62 is optional, but when these fasteners are used holes 63 are drilled transversely through the Well 25 for receiving the fasteners. Preliminary to drilling these holes, the compressible gasket 56 is placed in a state of compression, such as by placing a heavy weight on top of the cap 50, or by forcing the cap downwardly and then setting the self-tapping screws 59. With the gasket thus compressed, the holes 63 are then drilled, either by using the holes 61 in the side flanges to center the drill, or drilling new holes in the side flanges concurrently with drilling the through holes 63. I have shown cotter pins as the transverse fasteners 62, but bolts, screws or nails with the ends bent over may be used instead.

As previously described, the parting rib 55 of the cap serves to keep the upper divergent lips 36 of the dust guard 30 spread apart, and pressed outwardly against the side walls 27 of the dust gumd well 25. This aids in preventing transverse leakage of oil past the upper portion of the dust guard. However, the dust guard 39 is free to have a limited amount of vertical and horizontal movement relatively to this parting rib 55, concurrently with change of position of the journal in the journal box.

Figures 14 and 15 illustrate the same type of well cap 50, provided with modified fastening means in the form of internal fasteners. These internal fasteners comprise inverted U-shaped spring clips 64 secured by rivets 65 to the web portion 51 of the cap, there being one of these spring clips at each end of the cap. These spring clips are adapted to pass down into the well 25, and the outwardly projecting lower ends of these clips are formed with serrations or teeth 66 which are adapted to press outwardly against the side walls 27 of the well for fastening the cap to the well.

In Figures 16 and 17, I have illustrated another modified form of fastening means comprising lugs or indentations 68 punched inwardly in one of the side flanges 52 or 3 near opposite ends of the cap. These indented lugs are adapted to seat in recesses 69 formed in the outer wall of the well 25. Self-tapping screws 72 may be provided in the opposite flange of the cap for engaging the opposite wall of the well.

Figure 18 illustrates another form of fastening means comprising two horizontal ribs 74 which project from the outer walls of the well, these ribs being either welded to the well or cast integral therewith. The side flanges 52, 53 of the cap are spaced outwardly a sufficient distance to pass downwardly over the ribs, and the lower edges of these side flanges are formed with inwardly bent lips 76 adapted to hook under the ribs 74. In mounting the cap, the hook-shaped lip 76 on one of the side flanges is hooked under the corresponding rib '74, and the other side flange is then bent downwardly and inwardly to hook its lip 76 under its respective rib 74.

In Figure 19, the well is provided with the same two outwardly projecting ribs 74, but instead of having the side flanges of the cap book under the ribs, this is done by inverted U-shaped spring clips 73 which are riveted at 80 to the end portions of the cap and which have inwardly bent lower ends 82 adapted to hook under their respective ribs 74.

ach of the above described fastening means is arranged to hold the well cap 50 on the well 25 with the sponge rubber or neoprene gasket 56 in a state of compression.

By the use of my improved dust guard and well cap I am able to dispense with the necessity of using the conventional cotton waste in the journal box. f

While I have illustrated and described what I regard to be the preferred embodiments of my invention, nevertheless it will be understood that such are merely exemplary and that numerous modifications and rearrangements may be made therein Without departing from the essence of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a dust guard for mounting in the dust guard receiving well of a car journal box, the combination of two spaced layers of relatively stiff backing material, an intermediate layer of rubbery resilient material, said three layers being secured together to define a relatively stifl central portion having a transverse opening passing therethrough for receiving a car axle, said relatively stiff central portion having a free-floating mounting within said dust guard well on said car axle permitting free-floating movement vertically and horizontally, two laterally divergent sealing lips of rubbery resilient material projecting diagonally outwardly from the peripheral edge of said intermediate layer beyond the peripheral edges of said spaced layers and adapted to effect sealing contact with the walls of said dust guard receiving well, an internal annular sealing lip of rubbery resilient material projecting inwardly from said intermediate layer around said transverse opening and normally extending in a vertical plane for establishing sealing contact with the car axle, said sealing lip being of wedge-shaped cross section with the apex of the wedge bearing against the axle, and a V shaped groove formed in the inner peripheral portions of said two spaced layers around said transverse opening having its opposite side walls flaring outwardly substantially beyond the width of said wedge-shaped sealing lip for accommodating horizontal deflecting movement and vertical compressive movement of said sealing lip, said V-shaped groove being of sufficient size to accommodate all of said sealing lip in such deflecting or compressing movements.

2. In a dust guard for mounting in the dust guard receiving well of a car journal box, the combination of two spaced layers of relatively stifl backing material, an intermediate layer of rubbery resilient material, said three layers being secured together to define a relatively still central portion having a transverse opening passing therethrough for receiving a car axle, said relatively stiflf central portion having a free-floating mounting within said dustguard well on said car axle permitting free floating movement vertically and horizontally, a sealing lip of rubbery resilient material projecting outwardly from the peripheral edge of said intermediate layer beyond the peripheral edges of said spaced layers and adapted to effect sealing contact with the walls of said dust guard receiving well, an internal annular sealing lip of rubbery resilient material projecting inwardly from said intermediate layer around said transverse opening and normally extending in a vertical plane for establishing sealing contact with the car axle, said sealing lip be ing of wedge-shaped cross section with the apex of the wedge bearing against the axle, and a V-shaped groove formed in the inner peripheral portions of said two spaced layers around said transverse opening having its opposite side walls flaring outwardly substantially beyond the width of said wedge-shaped sealing lip for accommodating horizontal deflecting movement and vertical compressive movement of said sealing lip, said V- shaped groove being of suflicient size to accommodate all of said sealing lip in such deflecting or compressing movements.

3. In a dust guard for mounting in a dust guard re ceiving Well of a car journal box, the combination of a central portion composed of relatively stiff material and having a circular opening therethrough through which passes the journal of said journal box, said circular opening being of slightly larger internal diameter than the external diameter of said car journal, said central portion having free floating mounting vw'thin said dust guard well on said car journal permitting free floating movement of said central portion vertically and horizontally within said dust guard well, an internal annular resilent sealing lip extending inwardly from said circular opening in said central portion for establishing sealing contact with the car journal, an annular escape pocket formed internally in said circular opening and extending to each side of said internal sealing lip, into which escape pocket said sealing lip can be deflected horizontally or compressed vertically in the event of relative horizontal movement or relative vertical movement between said journal box an journal, whereby to avoid shearing, tearing or abrasion of said sealing lip between said central portion and the car journal as a result of such horizontal or vertical relative movements, said free floating mounting of said central portion enabling the resiliency of said internal lip to immediately restore said circular opening to a position of concentricity with respect to said car journal at the termination of such horizontal or vertical relative motion, and two laterally divergent sealing lips of rubbery resilient material projecting diagonally outwardly from the peripheral edge of said central portion and adapted to effect sealing contact with the walls of said dust guard receiving well.

4. In a dust guard for mounting in the dust guard receiving well at the inner end of a car journal box, said well having spaced parallel inner and outer side walls provided with openings therein through which the car journal extends, said openings being substantially larger than the diameter of said car journal to permit the car journal to have vertical and horizontal jolting movement in said car journal box, said dust guard comprising two outer spaced layers of relatively stiff backing material, and an intermediate one-piece integral layer between said backing layers composed of rubbery resilient elastomeric material, said three layers being fixedly secured together and having substantially axially aligned transverse openings passing therethrough and through which the car journal is adapted to extend, said three layers having a maximum over-all thickness which is substantially less than the axial wall-to-wall dimension of said dust guard receiving well, whereby said dust guardis substantially free to have full floating movement in said well, both vertically and horizontally with the vertical and horizontal jolting of the car journal in said journal box, two outer rubbery resilient elastomeric sealing lips formed integral with said one-piece elastomeric intermediate layer and flaring outwardly from the perimeter of said intermediate layer beyond the lateral confines of said relatively stiflf backing layers around all sides of the dust guard, said two outer sealing lips being of long tapered wedge-like formation tapering from inner base portions outwardly into feather edges which have relatively light floating sealing contact with the side walls of said dust guard receiving well, the rubbery resilient composition of said two outer sealing lips holding said feather edges elastically pressed outwardly into such light floating sealing contact with the side walls of the dust guard receiving well at all times, said intermediate elastomeric layer being of sutficient thickness to permit the two base portions of said two outer sealing lips to be disposed side by side in their integral joining with the outer perimeter of said intermediate layer between the opposite side surfaces of said intermediate layer, and an inner rubbery resilient elastomeric sealing lip formed integral with said one-piece elastomen'c intermediate layer, said inner sealing lip being of circular outline and extending inwardly of the transverse openings through said outer backing layers for establishing sealing contact with the periphery of the car journal, said inner sealing lip being of wedgeshaped cross section tapering inwardly from a base portion to an inner pointed apex which is adapted to contact with said car journal, said inner sealing lip being of relatively squatty shape having a relatively thick base portion of the thickness of said intermediate elastic layer at the point where the lip integrally joins said intermediate layer, and having a relatively short radial dimension between said base portion and its inner pointed apex, whereby there is a minimum likelihood of said inner sealing lip being laterally deflected and pinched or otherwise injured between said car journal and the edges of the transverse openings through said outer backing layers during the aforesaid jolting of the car journal in the journal box, the rubbery resilient elastomeric composition of said outer and inner sealing lips being impervious to oil and water for preventing the outer leakage of oil or the inward entrance of water past said dust guard.

5. A dust guard of the construction defined in claim 4 having a third rubbery resilient elastomeric outer sealing lip formed integral with said elastomeric intermediate layer and extending outwardly between said two outer laterally divergent sealing lips, said third outer sealing lip being adapted to contact the bottom wall of said dust guard well.

6. A dust guard of the construction defined in claim 4 which comprises an annular escape pocket formed internally within the transverse openings provided in the outer backing layers through which the car journal extends, said annular escape pocket extending to each side of said inner resilient sealing lip, and into which escape pocket said sealing lip can be deflected horizontally or compressed vertically in the event of relative horizontal movement or relative vertical movement between said journal box and journal, whereby to avoid shearing, tearing, or abrasion of said sealing lip between said backing layers and the car journal as the result of such horizontal or vertical relative movements.

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